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    Improvement of the crystal structural model of tinaksite

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    Tinaksite from ultralkaline agpaitic Murun massif (Russia) has been investigated. The name reflects its composition: titanium (Ti), sodium (Na), potassium (K) and silicon (Si). Its structure was reported for the first time in 1971 by Petrunina [1]. To the best of author's knowledge, tinaksite is the only silicate based on {hB, 21 }[3Si6O17(SiO2)] hybrid anion [2]. The structural model of Tinaksite proposed by Petrunina [1] was validated and improved by von Bissert [3] in 1980, who observed a more regular tetrahedra conformation. The tinaksite investigated by von Bissert [3] is triclinic with chemical composition: NaK2Ca2Ti[3Si7O19]OH. The compound here investigated has chemistry more complex, ((Na0.855K1.993Ca 2.008Ti0.792Mg0.083Fe3+0.096Mn0.100Zr0.027Sr0.013Zr0.027Zn0.008Ni0.007Cr0.005)[3Si7O19]OH), compared with Petrunina's [1] and von Bissert's [3] ones. It has been refined in P1, using the following lattice parameters: a = 7.0565(1) Å, b = 10.3750(1) Å, c = 12.1885(2) Å, = 92.802(1)°, = 90.763(1)°, = 99.241(1)°. In this work, the cation partition derived from SCXRD and EPMA data, is presented. The structure has been anisotropically refined up to an R(F) = 0.025 (for 5238 observed reflections with Fo > (Fo)). Tinaksite exhibits straight channels parallel to [001] direction, formed by double chains of silicate. The channels are stretched approximately along [110] direction, with maximum dimension 10.972(2) Å. The highest peak in the Fourier difference map is related to some structural disorder inside the Ti octahedron. This disorder likely can be ascribed to the entrance of the large K substituting the six-fold coordinated Na atom. As a matter of fact, the replacing of Na for K changes the coordination number of the polyhedron from 6 to 7, which seems to influence the neighbouring Ti atom position. Another point concerns the K1 and K2 atoms located inside the channels. According to von Bissert [3], the higher K1 thermal parameter with respect to the K2 one indicates the site filled by K1 is disorder. The structural refinement shows that K1 atom is located over at least three different positions. A charge distribution analysis, performed by means of the Chardi-It software [4], has returned an ECON number [5] of 11 and 9 for the K1 and K2, respectively. The bond distances for the three K atoms, related to K1, show these atoms are not always bonded to the same oxygens. Indeed, K1 can move inside a cage formed by 14 oxygen atoms with a volume of about 90 Å3. This volume results to be much larger even than the one of the ideal twelve-fold coordinated K atom (~18 Å3)

    Spectroscopy and crystal chemical properties of NaCa2[Si4O10]F natural agrellite with tubular structure

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    Agrellite is a rare inosilicate, having a crystal structure characterized by SiO4-tetrahedral tubes located between continuous wall layers formed by edge-sharing Ca-polyhedra. A detailed crystal chemical and physical study of agrellite specimens is carried out by means of electron probe microanalysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron-paramagnetic resonance, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Additionally, the electronic structures of agrellite was calculated. Luminescence due to 5d-4f transition in Ce3+ ions is observed in both investigated samples. EPR analysis points out the Mn2+ replaces Ca2+ ion in Ca(1A) and Ca(2B) positions, coordinated by two F sites

    Reappraisal of the crystal structure of Tinaksite from Murun massif (Russia): cation partition andstructural disorder

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    Tinaksite is a widespread mineral in the rocks of charoite complex of the Murun massif (Russia). The structure of tinaksite was reported for the first time in 1971 by Petranunia [1]. Until now, it is the only one silicate known based on a hybrid anion. According to Libeau [2], the latter can be described briefly by {hB, 21 }[3Si6O17(SiO2)], which represents the joint of an unbranched dreier single chain with a loopbranched dreier single chain. In 1980 von Bissert [3] confirmed the general structure architecture of tinaksite proposed by Petranunia [1], but found a more regular tetrahedral conformation. According to von Bissert [3], tinaksite is triclinic with the following chemical composition: NaK2Ca2Ti [3Si7O19]OH. The compound here investigated has been solved in P1, a=7.0565(1) Å, b=10.3750(1) Å, c=12.1885(2) Å, 92.802(1)°, , but differently from those studied by Petranunia [1] and von Bissert [3], it shows a more complex chemistry ((Na0.855K1.993Ca2.008Ti0.792 Mg0.082Fe3+ 0.142Mn0.100Ba0.006Sr0.006Zr0.007Zn0.004Ni0.003Cr0.002) [3Si7 O19]OH) and a more interesting structural details. In this work, the cation partition, derived by means of SCXRD and EMPA measurements, is presented. The structure has been anisotropically refined to a R(F) = 0.025 (for 5238 observed reflections with Fo > 3(Fo)). The highest peak in the Fourier difference map seems due to some structural disorder inside the Ti octahedron. This disorder likely is related to the entrance of the large K in place of six-fold coordinated Na atom. The replacing of Na by K seems to change the coordination number of the polyhedron from 6 to 7, so perturbing the neighbouring Ti atom position. Another point of interest concerns the K1 and K2 potassium atom located inside the system of one-dimensional channels of the structure, formed by double chains of silicate. According to von Bissert [3], the higher K1 thermal parameters with respect to the K2 one indicates the disorder on K1 site. The structural refinement shows that in the first case K occupies at least three different positions. A charge distribution analysis, performed by means of the Chardi-It software [4], has returned an ECON number [5] of 11 and 9 for the K1 and K2 site respectively. The bond distances for the three K atoms concerning K1 show these atoms are not always bonded to the same oxygens. In fact, K can move inside a cage formed by 14 oxygen atoms with a volume of about 90 Å3. This volume results to be much larger than of one assigned to K atom

    Structural disorder in tokkoite from Murun massif (Russia)

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    Tokkiote is a new mineral discovered in 1986 by Lazebnik et al. [1] on Murun massif (Russia). It belongs to group of alkali-calcium silicates containing hydroxyl and fluorine anions. The SCXRD investigation on this mineral dates back to 1989 [2]. Tokkoite is triclinic with general formula K2a4(Si7O18)(OH,F)2 [2] and is a Ca-bearing compound isostructural to tinaksite [3]; both minerals contain the rare [Si7O18(OH)]9- silicate radical. In this work a re-appraisal of tokkoite structure was undertaken and a cation partition, obtained by means of SCXRD and EPMA measurements, is derived. The structure has been refined in space group P1 (R1 = 4.45%), using the following lattice parameters: a = 10.4222(5) Å, b = 12.5023(6) Å, c = 7.1146(3) Å, = 89.904(2)°, = 99.714(2)°, = 92.979(2)°. The structure consists of layers of calcium octahedra interconnected along (100), between which the silicate-oxygen chains are located. K atoms are located inside the curved shape channels formed by silicon chains. Structural refinement showed that Si-tetrahedra are slightly distorted, but more regular if compared to [2]. Ca(1), Ca(3) and Ca(4) are octahedrally coordinated and appear more distorted than [2], with = 2.199, = 2.368, = 2.371, while in Ca(2) polyhedron Ca-ion seems to be bond to seven oxygen with = 2.860 Å. The highest peak (3.56 e/Å3) in the Fourier difference map is related to structural disorder at the Ca(1) octahedron, which could be due to a changing of the coordination number from 6 to 7 of Ca(2) polyhedron, which shares two edges with Ca(1) octahedron. According to [2], one of two potassium atoms in the unit cell is weakly linked and evidences some positional disorder not discussed by [2]. Structural refinement shows that K1 atom is distributed among at least three different positions having occupancy 0.658, 0.211 and 0.122, respectively. Similar behaviors were been observed also in tinaksite structure [4]

    Refinement of the Crystal Structure of Vlasovite from Burpala Massif (Russia)

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    The structural model and chemical composition of vlasovite from the Burpala massif (Russia) have been determined using X-ray diffraction methods and electron probe microanalysis. The crystal structure has been refined in the sp. gr. Cc to R = 1.4% (R w = 1.8%) with the following unit-cell parameters: a = 11.0396(3) Å, b = 10.1042(2) Å, c = 8.5696(2) Å, β = 100.307(1)°, V = 940.48(4) Å 3 , and Z = 4

    Armstrongite from Khan Bogdo (Mongolia): Crystal structure determination and implications for zeolite-like cation exchange properties

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    The results of a combined electron probe microanalysis, single-crystal X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared study of a crystal of armstrongite from Khan Bogdo deposit (Gobi, Mongolia) are reported. Major element analysis provided (wt%): CaO 9.2(1), ZrO2 20.9(2), and SiO2 62.5(2). Significant concentrations of REE (0.45 wt%) were also detected. From single-crystal structural refinement, armstrongite resulted monoclinic [space group C2/m, a = 14.0178(7), b = 14.1289(6), c = 7.8366(3) Å, b = 109.436(3)°, V = 1463.6(1) Å3, Z = 4] and twinned with two individuals rotated around a twin twofold axis parallel to [100]. The analyzed crystal was refined up to R = 3.3% (Rw = 2.9%). The structural refinement showed that the investigated armstrongite has only two water groups per formula unit consistent with the infrared analysis. Indeed, the occurrence in the infrared spectrum of the armstrongite (here reported for the first time) of two bending vibration bands at about 1640 and 1610 cm–1 testifies to the presence of two water groups environments. The results of this integrated approach converged to the following empirical formula (based on Si = 6 atoms per formula unit): (Ca0.96Ce0.01Yb0.01)Zr0.99Si6O14.97·2.02H2O. Finally, the studied mineral shows a framework density (FD = 21.86) lying in the range of zeolites and microporous heterosilicates with tetrahedral-octahedral frameworks. The determined crystal chemical features are relevant for the possible employment of this mineral or of its synthetic analogs for technological applications

    Structure and modeling of disorder in miserite from the Murun (Russia) and Dara-i-Pioz (Tajikistan) massifs

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    The structure, structural disorder and chemistry of miserite from the charoite-bearing rocks of the Murun massif (Russia) and from alkaline-syenite pegmatitic rocks of the Dara-i-Pioz massif (Tajikistan) were investigated employing a combination of electron microprobe, single crystal diffraction and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Chemical analysis of the sample investigated by X-ray diffraction evidenced that Dara-i-Pioz miserite has a greater REE concentration than Murun miserite (~0.22 vs. 0.05 apfu, respectively) and also contains Y (0.14 apfu), which is absent in Murun miserite. The occurrence of a band at about 1,600 cm−1 testified to the presence of H2O in miserite at hand. Structural analyses yielded average cell parameters of a = 10.092, b = 16.016, c = 7.356 Å, α = 96.60°, β = 111.27° and γ = 76.34°. Anisotropic structural refinement in space group P-1 converged at similar values for the analyzed samples (R ~3.4, R w ~3.8 %). An interesting feature shown by both the miserite specimen is the presence, revealed by difference Fourier analysis, of a disordered part of the structure. This turned out to be due to the flipping of the tetrahedra belonging to the isolated [Si2O7]6− diorthogroups, one of the two radicals (the other is [Si12O30]12−) characterizing the miserite structure. The sixfold and seven-vertex Ca polyhedra linked to the inverted diorthogroups show variation in coordination number with respect to those of the ordered structure
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